Jonathan Lewis (49), of Godsey Lane, Market Deeping, suffered a bad break as he walked down a private drive after leaving a party at a friend's house in Dogsthorpe Road, Peterborough, in the early hours of August 9.

He had an operation on the fracture and was bedridden for several days, Peterborough Crown Court heard on Friday.

But Lewis decided to put a claim in to Peterborough City Council for damages, which could have cost up to £22,000 in legal bills and compensation.

Lewis claimed he had stumbled over debris next to a lamppost on the public pavement but witnesses saw him lying on the driveway after the fall.

He wrote a letter to Peterborough City Council reporting debris next to the lamppost and said he hoped that the council would consider suitable compensation.

Lewis denied fraud but was convicted by a jury after a trial and was jailed for nine months.

Martin Knight, defending, said Lewis still denied the charge. He added that the cost of the claim would have been about £15,000.

Judge Sean Enright told him: "This was a calculated plan and your injuries were serious.

"It is clear you intended to make a claim for loss of earnings.

"The damages you sought to get would have been substantial and the loss to the public purse would have been at least £15,000."